Medical Cannabis Research

The New England Journal of Medicine dated February 28, 2013 covered opposing views about recommending cannabis. A case vignette is followed by specific options, neither of which can be considered either correct or incorrect. In short essays, experts in the field then argue for each of the options. Comments by readers are numerous and can be reviewed in the online version of this article. Also in the online version, readers can participate in forming community opinion by choosing one of the options and, if they like, providing their reasons. read more…

The British Medical Journal hypothesised that the prevalence of DM would be reduced in cannabis users due to the presence of one or more cannabinoids because of their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In this article published in February, 2011, they found that cannabis use was independently associated with a lower prevalence of DM. Further studies are needed to show a direct effect of marijuana on DM. read more…

This December 2012 review, published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B out of Germany, suggests that activating the brain’s cannabinoid system may trigger a sort of anti-oxidant cleanse, removing damaged cells and improving the efficiency of the mitochrondria, the energy source that powers cells, ultimately leading to a more robustly functioning brain. read more…

This 2006 interview is an excellent overview of the early science of cannabinoid medicine. Dr. Mechoulam is recognized as one of the world’s experts on cannabinoid-based medicine. In addition to his groundbreaking discoveries, he has authored hundreds of scientific papers on his cannabinoid research as well as a book, Cannabinoids as Therapeutic Agents, which provides an early review of the research in this area.

Did you know that smoking cannabis is a rare trigger of acute myocardial infarction and may pose a health risk to patients with established coronary artery disease and perhaps to individuals with multiple coronary risk factors? read more…

If Cannabis were unknown, and bio-prospectors were suddenly to find it in some remote mountain crevice, its discovery would no doubt be hailed as a medical breakthrough. Scientists would praise its potential for treating everything from pain to cancer and marvel at its rich pharmacopoeia; many of whose chemicals mimic vital molecules in the human body. read more…

As reported in a 2006 issue of Molecular Pharmacology: “Compared to currently approved drugs prescribed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, THC is a considerably superior inhibitor of Aβ aggregation, and this study provides a previously unrecognized molecular mechanism through which cannabinoid molecules may directly impact the progression of this debilitating disease.” read more…

Can CBD counteract adverse effects of excessive THC? In this 2010 issue of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, they showed that pretreatment with CBD prevented the acute induction of psychotic symptoms by D-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. D-9-THC and CBD can have opposite effects on regional brain function, which may underlie their different symptomatic and behavioral effects, and CBD’s ability to block the psychotogenic effects of D-9-THC. read more…

The years 2003 – 2008 showed a remarkable increase in publications on cannabidiol mainly stimulated by the discovery of its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects. These studies have suggested a wide range of possible therapeutic effects of cannabidiol on several conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral ischemia, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory diseases, nausea and cancer. read more…

In this review article published in the German Medical Association’s official journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt, the authors present the current state of knowledge on the therapeutic application of cannabinoid medications. This article was translated from the original German and recently made available to the public. read more…